ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Gaston Browne’s gamble of calling a general election nearly two years ahead of the constitutional deadline, paid off on Thursday when he guided his ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) to a commanding victory.

Preliminary results show the ABLP won 15 of the 17 seats at stake in the election, reversing the slim victory it achieved in January 2023, when the party scraped home by a 9-7 margin.

“We are humbled and honoured by your support and confidence. Now is the time to move forward together, build on our gains and continue our work on this long journey toward the betterment of our society and the upliftment of our people. From each and every one of us, THANK YOU,” Browne wrote on the Facebook page of the ruling party.

In his address to supporters, Browne said he was grateful for the confidence shown in his leadership and that of the ABLP to continue the socio-economic development of Antigua and Barbuda.

“We are here to serve all the people of Antigua and Barbuda. Education, jobs, business opportunities will be open to all who are prepared to seize them  and I say to my distinguished countrymen and countrywomen…when we create these opportunities for you, please seize them.

“And I add here again that no one will be left behind who is willing to move forward. And notwithstanding your political persuasion, this is not a time for laggards. This is a time for all of us to perform, to increase our productivity and to make sure that Antigua and Barbuda becomes one of the most productive small island states globally.”

He told supporters that the work has already begun and that across the nation, projects are underway, transforming communities, strengthening the economy and improving lives.

“And we will build on that foundation, advancing new initiatives that uplift our people, enhance our dignity and deepen our pride as citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.

“And I want to say to you that we must remain a dignified people. We must not cower to anyone. We must not be timid. We must stand tall in every forum, every regional, [and] every international forum as Antiguans and Barbudans.

“And as we build on the foundation and we advance new initiatives that uplift our people, we will make sure that we continue to enhance the dignity of our country,” Browne said, adding that now is not a moment of triumph.

“So just in case anyone expected me to gloat, at the end of the day, the contest is over. From all indications, the people who have supported us to get between 15 of the 17 seats, that in itself is a resounding mandate for which we are eternally grateful,” he added.

Preliminary figures released by the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) show that the leader of the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), Jamale Pringle, was the only candidate of the party to have withstood the ABLP onslaught, while on the sister isle of Barbuda, the incumbent Trevor Walker of the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) retained the seat polling 609 votes against 398 for Kendra Beazer, a former BPM member, who contested the poll on behalf of the ABLP.

Pringle defeated the ABLP’s Anthony Smith.

“I want to thank all Antiguans and Barbudans who have supported the United Progressive Party. We’re indeed grateful and you will hear from us in a short time,” Pringle said, extending congratulations to the ABLP.

He said while he is thankful for winning his seat and “we still maintain the constituency under the column of the United Progressive Party”, there’s no second place in politics.

“Just as we did in 2018, we’ll still be standing. We can’t get enough of the United Progressive Party. We’ll still be there,” he added.

Among the other defeated candidates was Harold Lovell, a former finance minister, who, following his defeat in the January 2023 general election, quit active politics. Lovell lost to Anthony Smith in the All Saints West constituency.

Browne, who easily retained the St John’s City West seat he has represented since 1999, becomes the first prime minister in the country to have won four consecutive general elections.

He had called the snap general election telling supporters that the campaign was a “renaissance” and victory was necessary to continue the progress the country had been achieving under the ABLP administration since 2014.

Among the other victorious ABLP candidates is Browne’s wife, Maria, the public works minister in the last government, who easily defeated the UPP’s Ashworth Azille in the St John’s Rural East seat.

The three independent candidates were unable to make any significant impact, all losing their deposits.